I live in beautiful North Wales, admittedly far from any place which would make it ‘easy’ for me to go as an ATR given the distance I will have to travel to get to it; still very pretty a place and nice to live in!

I have been a member of the Bangor Street Pastor Team (one of the only two in North Wales) since its inception in 2010; have been a Senior Pastor for most of it. I love working in Bangor, a university town, home to some 14,000 students and of a four- fold increase in population over summer with holiday makers. But then I love working as a street pastor, wherever. I consider it a privilege to take my Faith to the local community not by words but by deeds; it works.

I was indeed blessed to be part of the team that went to Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria in 2013; we trained, commissioned and led for a few days a team of 60 or so Street Pastors there. This was the first Street Pastor initiative in the African continent.

It is also my prayer and hope that the Lord will open up further opportunities for me to venture into setting up similar SP initiatives in troubled and broken places/countries.

MALCOM MURRAY

Malcolm is an ATR and volunteer coordinator for Basingstoke Street Pastors, which started in Basingstoke in July 2008. He is highly passionate about his faith and Street Pastors and the impact it can have on a community. He is a member and on the leadership team of North Basingstoke Community Church.

In his day job Malcolm is a Co-Founder and Director of the Entrepreneurs Hub, they work with company owners to help them grow and build valuable businesses; and prepare for their eventual exit from the business.

As an established Entrepreneur and accomplished motivational speaker, he is passionate about helping people to grow and develop in business and life. Malcolm has delivered seminars, training and motivational talks to over 60,000 people in businesses, churches and Street Pastor initiatives across the UK.

Malcolm enjoys spending time with his family, eating out and going to the cinema with his wife Julie, cycling on his road bike, playing golf (not so good at times!), and watching Southampton Football Club.

KEN CRAFER

Ken is volunteer coordinator of Weymouth Street Pastors in Dorset. The team have been active in the town since June 2008 , Ken joining soon after launch.

Married to Carol, ( also a Street Pastor) with two grown up children, Ken has a passion for encouraging the church to engage with the community outside its walls, working with the local council in their development of the town masterplan, regularly monthly slots on BBC local radio talking about Street Pastors and advising the Cabinet Office on aspects of the night time economy.

Previously a teacher and lecturer, he now spends a lot of time as a senior examiner for two exam boards, and travels the country inspecting standards in colleges and schools. He has also written three text books.

Slightly more unusually, Ken also inspects standards in garden centres, and spends much of December inspecting Santa’s little helpers and his grotto!

When he first heard about Street Pastors he knew immediately this was something he was being called to do.

DANIEL STONE

School and College Pastors Coordinator

DUNCAN WITHALL

I am now a retired (they tell me) Bideford businessman. Actually I seem to be a full-time volunteer working far harder than ever. Volunteering is a good excuse for not doing housework, so I am:

ATR for Cornwall (and Devon if needed!), based in Tavistock, and retired to serve the Lord in a number of ways.

Elder in my local church in Tavistock, Street and School Pastor, also Police Chaplain to the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary, based in Tavistock and Okehampton.

Finding that retirement is as busy as working full time!!

MALCOM HARRIS

Having spent 31 years as a secondary teacher, including twice being Deputy Head, I moved into Health and Safety and qualified with an MSc in 2007.

Having thought that Street Pastoring would be for me when I retire, I was able to start training earlier with the loss of my mother in 2014.

I have lived in East Sussex for nearly forty years and have been part of Rye and District Street Pastors since their launch in May 2015, where I am a Senior/ Team Leader and act as co-ordinator when required. Last year, I also trained as a Response Pastor.

I wanted to assist Ascension Trust further and so trained as an ATR, where I hope and pray that with my education background, I will be able to train and encourage more recruits to serve as Street Pastors and I look forward to what the future holds for me.

Interests: Driving, cooking and music – learning to play French Horn Grade 5 and I play drums.

PHIL NORTON

Phil Norton has been a volunteer Street Pastor for four and a half years being significant in Street Pastors being established in Billericay Essex in 2013. He has remained Coordinator there since and launched another new project in Basildon in 2016. He has been an ATR for 1 year and enjoys representing Ascension Trust in various capacities.

Phil is pleased that he has recently been enabled to give up his regular job in order to concentrate full time on supporting current street pastor initiatives across Essex as well as hopefully encouraging other areas to establish street pastors.

MARTIN POINTING

Martin came to know Jesus when he was 15 years of age, he was in the Met Police from 16 yrs of age until he retired in 2011. When he retired he worked for the Ascension Trust as the National Co ordinator for School and College Pastors. He and his wife both work at City Gates church in Soho and he is married with 3 children, and at the moment just 2 grandchildren. I oversee work with homeless people, I work with people from around the world and love, mentor and encourage many young people. I currently train for a number of charities, including Christian charities, using Restorative Justice, I also work one day a week for Croydon Youth Offending service.

ANWAR BOURAZZA

Anwar Bourazza is the local Street Pastors Coordinator for Gravesend in Kent. Anwar has been a Street Pastor since 2004 and has worked closely with Ascension Trust for many years. He is very passionate about the vision of Street Pastors and has had the privilege of training Street Pastors all over the UK over the last few years and met some fantastic people. Anwar has also completed Stage 3-5 for new areas, alongside launches and commissioning services. Anwar is based within the Kent Area and is part of the Kent Street Pastors Coordinators group that meet on a quarterly basis.

SHARON CONSTANCE

Sharon Constance was one of the original 18 who went out on the street of Lambert and Hackney back in 2003.

Sharon has been involved with the training side of Street Pastors both in the UK and Internationally. She is also an international Trainer of trainers

Sharon is not affiliated with one particular area Street Pastor area, so is in the privilege position being able to patrol in various areas

She has a passion for people and Street Pastors meets that passion by Caring , Listening and Helping.

MARTIN HILL

Martin Hill has been associated with Street Pastors since 2007 when he was involved in the setting up and co-ordinating of Aberdeen Street Pastors. He is currently based in South London and recently joined the management committee of Southwark Street Pastors.

Martin has been in full-time ministry with The Salvation Army for over thirty years. As well as leading churches, his roles have included regional youth and children’s work and regional leadership. He currently works at the Army’s UK headquarters with responsibility for publishing.

MARK WELSH

I am a 53 years old from Newtownabbey, married to Karen and have two daughters 26 & 23. I work as an Energy Services Manager for Energia based in Belfast and as a member of the Energy Institute can talk about electricity for hours.

I am an Elder in New Mossley Presbyterian Church which is based is a housing estate on the outskirts of North Belfast; our passion is to share the love of Jesus in all of our community. Although a socially deprived area the people are a blessing and there is a real community spirit. When the local council moved their offices in to our parish about 4 years ago it gave us opportunities to work closer with the council.

It was God at work when a friend said we should check out Street Pastors, the idea of being part of the Urban Trinity involving The Church, Council and Police (caring, listening and helping) was something we had to take seriously. To cut a long story short we started Newtownabbey Street Pastors in spring 2012, I was Chair of the scheme for first two years and now serve as a member of the management team coordinating the training and projects. We have over 70 trained volunteers and we are keen to develop our work in more areas within our council area.

My passion is for the community; I have been running various youth clubs in the church for over 30 years and successfully applied for funding for the church to appoint a Youth & Community worker over the last 7 years.

MARTIN CALLAM

Norwich, Norfolk

I am 62 years old with three grown children and three grand children.

I worked as a Hospital Pharmacist for 33 years before retiring from the NHS in 2008.

Along with my wife, Paula, I coordinated the Antigua & Barbuda Street Pastors Initiative from September 2008 to February 2016.

Now back in Norwich I am a member of my local Methodist Church and am a Steward and have just started training as a Local Preacher.

I firmly believe that the Church should be functioning outside of its doors on the streets and lanes of the town (and country).

PAULA CALLAM

Norwich, Norfolk

I am 63 years old, Mum to three grown children and Granny to three young grandchildren.

I was a science technician in a school but am now retired.

I became a Street Pastor in 2007 in Norwich where I live. The Street Pastors Initiative in Norwich no longer functions.

In September 2008 I went with my husband Martin to Antigua where we were the coordinators of the Street Pastors Initiative till February 2015. We returned to the UK in March 2015 having completed our mission in Antigua and trained a local coordinator to take over our role.

I am a member of a local Methodist Church.

I believe that the church needs to get out of its buildings and into the community in ways that are relevant to local needs. I think that Street Pastors is a great initiative that reaches out to many people who otherwise would have no contact with ‘church’ and it shows that we care about the community. It has also been my experience that I have learnt a lot and grown in my personal faith through involvement with Street Pastors.

SARAH WILLIAMS

I love to see people develop their full potential and to share from my own experiences. I have been a Christian for many years becoming a Street Pastor Northampton in 2008. I was a volunteer coordinator in Northampton for 2.5 years but needed to stand down due to the demands of my paid employment with in the NHS. I have since become semi-retired allowing me more time to enjoy my love of skiing and pursue different areas of Street Pastors.

Since becoming an ATR I have found a real joy in training and refreshing Street Pastors. I am also a Response Pastor and a Director of Springs family Centre (my churches outreach to our area). I volunteer at the youth hub loving to interact with those who attend. I was privileged in 2015 to receive The High Sheriff award for significant contributions to the community through Street Pastors and the youth group. I look forward to the ongoing challenges of being an ATR and being part of this great ministry.

BOB & MARGARET REEVE – RUGBY (Warwickshire)

Bob retired from the British Army in 2005 at the age of 55, having served for 37 years, firstly as an enlisted soldier and latterly as a Commissioned Officer. Bob was accompanied throughout his army career by his wife – Margaret.

Since retiring Bob has been actively involved in various church ministries including: PA to his senior minister, secretary of REVIVE Steering Group (Rugby’s Churches Together), member of Rugby Foodbank Steering Group (during its first 2 years of setting up) and a Church Cell Group Leader. Additionally, he has been a board member and active volunteer in a local Community Centre dealing on a day-to-day basis with statutory & voluntary sector organisations, as well as members of the local community, Police & local government.

Bob was instrumental in the launch of a Street Pastors Initiative in Rugby in 2009 and became their first SP Coordinator. Up until September 2014, when Bob handed over this role to another Coordinator, both he and Margaret were instrumental in recruiting and training 50 SPs and have patrolled as members of the same SP team for the past 5 years.

Having handed over as Rugby’s SPI Coordinator in Rugby, Bob has been actively involved in helping Coventry launch an initiative in their City, being co-opted onto their Management Team to assist and advise them through the initial setting up stages, Launch Service and initial training modules. Both Bob & Margaret were the ATRs that presented the R&R trg module at Coventry and were also their ATRs at their Commissioning Service.

Bob continues to serve on the Rugby Street Pastors Management Board, as Treasurer and as their Recruiting & Training Coordinator.

DR NIZAM MOHAMMED

Nizam is a retired Principal Lecturer in Management and Research at Kingston University and St George’s University of London. . Married with two children, sadly loosing my daughter to cancer in 2010. I have been a street pastor in Epsom and Ewell for 10 years before moving to settle in Camber East Sussex post retirement. Was appointed Coordinator of Rye and District SP initiative Feb 2015.

Rye and District is a new initiative which was launched on May 2nd 2015 with 7 street pastors and 7 prayer pastors. We now have 12 street pastors and continue to grow. Currently working in partnership with Bexhill, Hastings, Tonbridge and East Grinstead to train our future street pastors.

MIKE FREEMAN; MBE

Lives in Stamford, Lincolnshire.
After completing 30 years in the Police Service I then worked for several Christian charities including in 2010 ‘More Than Gold’; whilst with them I implemented, recruited, trained and managed the ‘Games Pastor’ programme, where just under 300 Games Pastors deployed for the Olympic Games in 2012. That was when I first networked with Ascension Trust (Games Pastors).

After the Olympics my involvement increased with Ascension Trust when I became a Street Pastor (in Stamford) and also took on the role of ATR. I have trained Street Pastors both in R & R and also Refresher Training both in the UK and abroad. In 2013 I assisted to train, launch and deploy the first Street Pastor programme in Africa, in Lagos,Nigeria; where we trained and deployed 60 Street Pastors.

In 2014 I formulated, commenced training and am now also National Co-ordinator of the latest Ascension Trust Initiative; ‘Response Pastors’.

ADRIAN PRIOR-SANKEY

Adrian Prior-Sankey is a former Baptist Minister based in Taunton, Somerset, with lots of life experience having served as a Special Constable, Chairman of a local authority and an ecumenical represenative, leading him to being described on one occasion as a ‘one man urban Trinity’! He is the author of the Street Pastors’ Leadership Course and enjoys travelling widely to share his passion for making Jesus known to people of all ages through the care we offer.

JOEL WARD

Joel Ward is an ATR and Team Leader for Torbay School Pastors. Joel was part of the team that started School Pastors in that area and served as the project co-ordinator for nearly four years – initially working with one Secondary School, but soon expanding to work in partnership with all five secondary schools in the town (now expanding into the next town under the new co-ordinator).

Joel has been in full-time Ministry since 2001, serving in a variety of urban and suburban contexts with a passion for reaching the lost, last and least with the Hope found only in Jesus. An Ordained Baptist Minister, he has been the Youth Pastor at Upton Vale Baptist Church since 2009, where he leads a team of staff and volunteers in delivering a wide range of provision for children, youth and young adults (under 30’s) both on the Church site, in schools and in the local community – including the School Pastors initiative.

Joel has a particular passion for raising up other leaders, encouraging and empowering people according to their gifting to excel in the places God places them. He believes we are all called to the ‘Adventure of Obedience’.

Joel is married to Kirsty and they have 3 children, Malachi, Elijah and Esme. They like to have lots of adventures together..

ANN MURPHY

I grew up in a non-Christian household in Slough, but went to Sunday school with some school friends from the age of 11. Found faith in Christ at the age of 12 at a Pentecostal youth camp. From the age of 16 took on various responsibilities in running Sunday school classes and large youth camps and was also a Red Cross cadet, learning 1st Aid and using it in public at Windsor Castle and Ascot Race course from 11-16 years old.

Studied Horticulture at Merrist Wood Agricultural College, set up my own landscape gardening business at the age of 19, before gaining some retail management / retail auditing experience by 30.

Alongside this I was dis-satisfied with the divide between Church and the thousands of non-Christians I met who had no interest in attending church. Have been part of church planting teams and also trained as an Advanced Cub Scout leader (ie training new leaders in a voluntary uniformed organisation, with Christian roots).

From the age of 18, I developed an interest in politics – my church invited various Christian politicians and I became aware of the need for Christians to take an active part in their local affairs.

In the mid 90’s, I felt God’s call to overseas mission and trained in France with an interdenominational Mission – hosting large groups, bookkeeping and finance and assistant Head Gardener.. I was in France until 2001 and during that time I ran numerous prayer trips to the EU institutions and War Graves Cemeteries (studied Europen war and peace history for 3 years) Have had the privilege of praying with various MEPs and Commissioners.

From 1998 – 2005 made 14 trips to Romania working with a Baptist church and local school headmistress and Mayor in 5 villages on the Serbian border.

Was then invited to move to Leicester, to help churches to become Mission focused. So I was – like a lot of Street Pastors – one of those Christians who had been waiting for a Street Pastor shaped ministry to be invented. Many former missionary colleagues are also Street Pastors.

Street Pastors was an obvious organisation to be linked with. It has all the core principles which I have looked for since being saved.

In SW Leicester – where I have lived for the last 7 years, I was Chair of Churches Together. The 3 years in office as Vice Chair, then Chair, gave me some deeper insight into the challenges of what different denominations face when working together practically.

Most recent non Street Pastor experience – studying Fresh Expressions of Church / Pioneer Ministry in Lincoln – part time over 2 years and assisting 5 Anglican churches in Leicestershire to develop their own mission activiities – outreach to non-Churched people.

CHRIS LINCOLN

Hi I’m Chris, I felt my calling to joining Street pastors in 2009 starting in Newcastle upon Tyne, I was appointed a Senior the following year and in 2011 was called to Whitley Bay Street Pastors to be their first Coordinator. Our first patrol was in December 2011 and we have had the most amazing and blessed journey, we have our mobile safe place which is a huge asset and in 2012 we were also called to patrol in Tynemouth as well.

We started our patrols on the Metro system in 2014 and have just recently started discussions with the police in Wallsend as they would like us to patrol there. I love being a Street pastor, a wonderful calling.

About Ascension Trust

Ascension Trust is a Christian inter-denominational organisation with a passion to empower individuals to work together within their local community and nation, to contribute positively to society and to improve the quality of life of the disadvantaged and vulnerable.